Many
of the houses were quite closed up and dark, but in some there was a
voice of talking; and here and there Martha saw a figure stealing like
herself along the deepest shadows. But she escaped without being
noticed; and, once through the village, her path lay along the silent
high-roads straight on to Longville.
Nor did Stephen linger in the cinder-hill cabin. He ran swiftly over the
pit-banks, and stole along by the limekilns and the blacksmith's shop,
for under the heavy door he could see a little fringe of light. How
loudly the dry cinders cranched under his careful footsteps! Yet, quiet
as the blacksmith's shop was, and soundless as the night without, the
noise did not reach the ears of those who were lurking within, and
Stephen went on in safety. There stood the master's house at last, black
and massive-looking against the dark sky; not a gleam from fire or
candle to be seen below, for every window was closely shuttered; but on
the second storey there shone a lighted casement, which Stephen knew
belonged to the master's chamber. The dog, which came often with Miss
Anne to the cinder-hill cabin, gave one loud bay, and then sprang
playfully upon Stephen, as if to apologize for his mistake in barking at
him.
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